Apparatus for integrating and recording quantity of flow of fluid

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for integrating and recording total quantity of flow through a pipe line including a lever system which is caused to move in accordance with a first input of movement from a measurement of the static pressure within the pipe line and a second input of movement from a measurement of the differential pressure across a meter orifice within the pipe line. The two input of movements are multiplied by each other by the lever system providing a single output of movement which is registered on a cumulative counter that in turn indicates total quantity of flow through the pipe line over a period of time. When either the measurement of static pressure is zero or measurement of the differential pressure is zero, the lever system will not provide an output of movement to the cumulative counter. Additionally, when the measurement of differential pressure is zero a positive lock is provided to prevent registration of flow by the cumulative counter.

United States Patent 1 Nolte [111 3,745,25 [451 July 17,1973

[ APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATING AND RECORDING QUANTITY OF FLOW OF FLUID [75]Inventor:

Claude B. Nolte, Villanova, Pa.

Kingmann-White, Inc., Placentia, Calif.

Filed: Oct. 13, 1971 Appl. No.: 188,947

U.S. Cl. 73/206, 73/211 Int. Cl. G01f 1/02 Field of Search 73/206, 211,183

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1932 Gorrie 73/206 5/1967Nolte 73/206 X Primary Examiner-Richard C. Queisser AssistantExaminer-John P. Beauchamp Attorney-John W. Logan, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for integrating and recording total quantity offlow through a pipe line including a lever system which is caused tomove in accordance with a first input of movement from a measurement ofthe static pressure within the pipe line and a second input of movementfrom a measurement of the differential pressure across a meter orificewithin the pipe line. The two input of movements are multiplied by eachother by the lever system providing a single output of movement which isregistered on a cumulative counter that in turn indicates total quantityof flow through the pipe line over a period of time. When either themeasurement of static pressure is zero or measurement of thedifferential pressure is zero, the lever system will not provide anoutput of movement to the cumulative counter. Additionally, when themeasurement of differential pressure is zero a positive lock is providedto prevent registration of flow by the cumulative counter.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENIEU JUL 1 7 SHEEI 10F 2 APPARATUS FORINTEGRATING AND RECORDING QUANTITY OF FLOW OF FLUID The presentinvention relates to new and useful improvements in meters forintegrating and recording total quantity of flow of fluid through a pipeline and more particularly to improvements in such meters which preventthe meters from recording flow when there is no flow in the pipe line.

In meters of this type for integrating and recording total flow of afluid through a pipe line, a lever system is provided which has movementimparted to it from two separate sources. The first source of movementto the lever system is imparted from a signal representativeof themeasurement of static pressure within the pipe line while the secondsource of movement to the lever system is imparted from a signalgenerated by differential pressure, for example, across an orifice inthe pipe line. This lever system multiplies the two signals or sourcesof movement it received and the total output of movement of the leversystem, in turn, positions a rotary cam by means of a segmental gearinterconnected with a pinion on a cam shaft. The position of the rotarycam is thus determined by both the static pressure in the pipe line andthe difi'erential pressure across an orifice in the pipe line ormeasurement of velocity of the fluid through the pipe line, these twomeasurements when integrated together providing a measurement of totalquantity of flow through the pipe line over a period of time. Theposition of the rotary cam, in turn, is measured at short predeterminedregular intervals, for example, by a clock-operated recording mechanismand the output of the recording mechanism indicates the total quantityof flow of fluid which has passed through the pipe line.

Theoretically, this lever system would be at the zero position when thedifferential pressure across an orifice in the pipe line is zero andthus, the rotary cam would be in its zero position causing the recordingunit to record zero flow at the time the recording unit is actuated.However, the lever system and cam must be free to move readily upon theslightest force of input of movement to the lever system from both themeasurement of the static pressure and the measurement of thedifferential pressure. Accordingly, it has been found that because ofthe slight play which must be present in the many pivot connections inthe lever system and the slight play which must be present in the geartrain for input of movement to the rotary cam from the lever system,that the rotary cam will not always be in its true zero position whenthe measurement of the differential pressure is zero. There is furtheradditional play in the mechanical system which transmits the measurementof the position of the rotary cam to the recording unit. Thus, whileintegrating and recording units of this type are extremely accurate inthe measurement of a high quantity of flow through a pipe line, theywill, in some instances, give a recording of flow through the pipe linewhen no such flow exists. It is, therefore, an object of the presentinvention to provide improvements in meters of the above-described typewhich will prevent such meters form recording flow when the differentialpressure reading of such meters is zero but will permit such meters toaccurately record flow as soon as a recordable' differential pressureexists across an orifice plate in the pipe line.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide mechanicalmeans connected to the source of input to the meter system from thedifferential pressure measurement which may be interposed in the path ofmovement of the mechanism that records the position of the rotary cam sothat the recording mechanism cannot take a measurement of the positionof the rotary cam when the differential pressure measurement is zero,but is free to record the position of the rotary cam when a differentialpressure exists across the orifice in the pipe line.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide novelapparatus of the above-described type which is fool-proof in operationand which may be manufactured and assembled easily and quickly.

These and other objects of the present invention and the variousfeatures and details of the operation and construction thereof arehereinafter more fully set forth and described with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a reduced sized elevational view showing the general assemblyof an encased integrating and recording apparatus embodying the presentinvention connected to a conventional orifice flow meter of the typeemploying circular charts;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the integrating and recordingsystem for multiplying and obtaining a function of static pressure anddifferential pressure across an orifice in a pipe line and transmittingthis function to recording or totalizing apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the lever system of FIG. 2moved out of the zero position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the lever system in a differentposition;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the apparatus forpreventing recording of flow by the recording unit when differentialpressure across an orifice in a pipe line is zero; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 in a position pennitting recording offlow.

In FIG. 1 there is illustrated a conventional orificetype flow meter 10adapted to measure and record on circular charts static pressure in apipe line and differential pressure across the meter orifice in the pipeline. Static pressure is recorded on the chart of the flow meter 10 bythe pen indicator 11 and differential pressure is recorded on the chartby the pen indicator 12, both of which are mounted on conventional penshafts of the flow meter. It should be understood that for accuratemeasurement of flow of a compressible gas the reading of thedifferential pressure across the orifice plate of the meter should becompensated by variations in static pressure within the pipe line.Accordingly, flow meters of this type will record both the differentialand static pressures.

The integrating and recording unit 13 of the present invention forrecording total quantity of flow over a period of time is mounteddirectly on top of the flow meter 10. The pen indicators 11 and 12 areinterconnected to the integrating and recording unit 13, as more fullydescribed hereinafter, by means of adjustable connecting links 14 and15, respectively, to transmit rotary motion from the pen shafts of theindcators 11 and 12 to the integrating portion of the integrating andrecording unit. The recording portion of the integrating and recordingunit indicates the total quantity of flow over a period of time on acumulative counter 16 visible through an opening in the outer casing.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and particularly FIGS. 2, 3and 4 thereof, the integrating and recording unit 13 comprises anintegrating or multiplying section 17 and a recording or totalizingsection 18. The integrating or multiplying section 17 consists of alever system more fully described hereinafter adapted to be moved byboth connecting links 14 and 15 from the static pressure anddifferential pressure pen indicators. The lever system, in turn,controls the position of an archimedes cam 19. The position of thearchimedes cam 19, in turn, controls the amount of movement to beimparted to the cumulative counter 16 by the recording or totalizingunit 18 as more fully described hereinafter, for recording the totalquantity of flow over a period of time.

In FIG. 2, the lever system of the integrating or multiplying unit 17 isshown in a position with zero pressure differential across the orificeplate in the flow meter and zero static pressure or atmospheric pressurein the pipe line through which flow is being measured. In FIG. 3 thelever system is shown in a position with static pressure in the pipeline above normal atmospheric pressure but with zero differentialpressure across the orifice plate. In FIG. 4 the lever system is shownin its normal position with flow through the pipe line, that is with apositive static pressure and the existence of differential pressureacross the orifice plate.

As illustrated in the drawings, the static pressure connecting link 14is connected to a static pressure lever 21 pivoted at its midpoint at 22to the casing for the integrating and recording unit. The differentialpressure connecting link 15 is interconnected with a differentialpressure lever 23 which is pivoted at its midpoint at 24 to the casing.Movement of both the static pressure and differential pressure layers 21and 23 is in turn transmitted to the lower end of a first motiontransmitting lever 25 which is pivoted to the casing at 25a. This firstmotion transmitting lever 25 transmits similar motion to a second motiontransmitting lever 26 pivoted at its midpoint as at 27 by means of aconnecting link 28.

To transmit the motion to the first motion transmitting lever from themovement of the static pressure lever 21 and differential pressure lever23 so that movement of one of the levers multiplies movement of theother lever and to prevent movement of the first motion transmittinglever 25 when either the static pressure lever 21 or differentialpressure lever 23 is in its zero position, a pair of connecting links 29and 30 of equal length are provided. The first connecting link 29 ispivoted at 31 to the lower end of a generally vertical extendingconnecting link 32 which in turn is pivoted to the upper end of thestatic pressure lever. The opposite end of the first connecting link 29is pivotally connected to the lower end of the first motion transmittinglever 25. The second connecting link 30 has its one end pivotallyconnected to the pivot 31 of the connecting link 32 while its other endis pivotally connected to the extreme right-hand end of the differentialpressure lever 23. When both the static pressure lever 21 anddifferential pressure lever 23 are in their zero position, the pivot 31for the connecting links 29 and 30 is in alignment with the pivotconnection 24 for the differential pressure lever 23 and the pivotconnections for the opposite ends of the connecting links 29 and 30overlie one another as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. With this construction,if the static pressure lever 2] is moved out of its zero position, forexample, to the position as shown in FIG. 3, no motion will betransmitted to the first motion transmitting lever 25 because of thefact that the pivotal points at the right-hand ends of the connectinglinks 29 and 30 are in axial alignment. Similarly, with the staticpressure lever in its zero position in which the pivot point 31 overliesthe pivot point 24 no motion will be transmitted to the first motiontransmitting lever upon movement of the differential pressure lever 23.

FIGS. 3 and 4, however, illustrate how motion can be applied to thefirst motion transmitting lever 25 by movement of one of the levers 21or 23 when the other lever 21 or 23 is out of its zero position. Forexample. with static pressure at a predetermined level present in thepipe line the static pressure lever 21 is pivoted in thecounterclockwise direction about its pivot 22. Thereafter, asdifferential pressure across the orifice plate in the pipe line isincreased clockwise movement of the diffemetial pressure lever 23 aboutits pivot 24 will impart movement to the motion transmitting lever 25.Similarly, if the differential pressure lever is maintained stationaryout of its zero position, an increase in static pressure and furthercounterclockwise movement of the static pressure lever 21 will causefurther movement of the motion transmitting lever 25.

The multiplying of the movement of the static and differential pressurelevers is transmitted by the second motion transmitting lever 26 to asegmental gear 33 fixed to the lever 26 which, through a pinion 34,transmits corresponding movement to the archimedes cam 19 whose surfaceposition at a predetermined point provides an indication of the squareroot of the product of the differential and the static pressures.

A cam follower 35 adjustably carried by a pivoted arm 36 normally heldin a position disengaged from the cam 19 but adapted to be permitted tobe moved against the surface of the cam at predetermined time intervalsmeasures the position of the cam 19 and actuates the recording andtotalizing unit 18.

The recording and totalizing unit 18 includes conventional clockmechanism which, for example, may be operated by a spring wound atregular intervals by electric batteries. The clock mechanism controlsmovement of a rotary cam 38 which, at predetermined intervals, is causedto make a single revolution. For example, in the present embodiment ofthis invention the cam 38 rotates once every five seconds. Rotatablymounted on the face of the clock mechanism is a large toothed wheel 39which carries a pinion 40 and, through a gear train 41, causes rotationof the drive shaft 42 of the cumulative counter 16.

Rotary movement is imparted to the toothed wheel 39 upon each rotationof the cam 38 in accordance with the position of the archimedes cam 19.This is accomplished in the present invention by an arm 43 mounted forpivotal movement about the axis of the wheel 39 which in turn ispivotally connected at 440 to a connecting link 44 that is in turnpivotally connected at 44b to the arm 36 which carries the cam follower35. The cam 38 nonnally engages the arm 43 and maintains it in itselevated position as shown in FIG. 2. In this position of the am 43 thecam follower 35 is out of engagement with the surface of the involutecam 19. Upon rotation of the cam 38 the arm 43 is permitted to pivot inthe clockwise direction relative to FIG. 2

and pulling the cam follower 35 into engagement with the cam 19. Furtherdownward pivotal movement of the arm 43 is prevented when the camfollower engages the cam 19. Thus, the position of the involute cam 19controls the amount of rotation of the arm 43 about its axis. Theleft-hand end of the arm 43, relative to FIG. 2, carries a ratchet 45which engages the teeth of the wheel 39, and rotates the wheel as thearm 43 is returned to its elevated position by the cam 38. Stationaryratchets 46 prevent movement of the wheel 39 in the opposite direction.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided to preventthe cumulative counter from recording existence of flow through the pipeline when there is zero differential pressure across the meter orificeand the differential pressure lever is in its zero position as shown inFIG. 2. As set forth previously, be cause of clearance which must bepresent in the pivotal connections for the lever system and the geardrive for the involute cam 19, it is possible for there to be a slightclearance between the cam follower 35 and the surface of the cam 19 atthe zero flow condition. To prevent an input to the cumulative counterupon rotation of the cam 38 when the differential pressure lever is inits zero position, an adjustable stop member 47 is provided which at thezero position of the differential pressure lever is interposed in thepath of travel of a downwardly projecting extension 48 of the pivotedarm 43. Movement of the differential pressure lever out of its zeroposition simultaneously causes movement of the adjustable stop out ofthe path of travel of the arm extension 48 thereby permitting movementof the arm 43 and corresponding input to the cumulative counter 16.

The adjustable stop 47 is mounted for pivoted movement about a shaft andis normally urged to a position out of the path of travel of the armextension 48 by means of a conventional spring 49. While a tensionspring has been shown to normally urge the adjustable stop out of itszero position, a torsion spring mounted about the shaft carrying theadjustable stop may be used to accomplish this purpose. The shaftmounting the stop 47 carries a pinion 51 mounted in engagement with asegmental gear 52 carried by a pivoted arm 53. An adjustable stop member54 is carried at the end of the differential pressure lever 23 andadapted to engage the arm 53 when the differential pressure lever 23 isin its zero position to thereby move the arm 53 to the position as shownin FIG. 2 and cause the gear segment 52 to rotate a stop member 47 to aposition in the path of travel of the arm extension 48. Upon movement ofthe differential pressure lever 23 out of its zero position the arm 53is permitted to move in the counterclockwise direction about its pivotthereby rotating the stop member 47 to a position as shown in FIG. 6 outof the path of travel of the arm exension 48. In this position therotary arm 43 is free to drop downwardly when released by the cam 38 andan indication of the quantity of flow may be registered on thecumulative counter 16.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the present inventionprovides novel apparatus for integrating and recording total quantity offlow of fluid through a pipe line and will further positively preventregistration of flow of fluid when no such flow exists.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has beenillustrated and described herein, it is apparent that variousmodifications may be incorporated and embodied in this structure.

I claim:

ll. Apparatus for integrating measurements of flow of a fluid passingthrough an orifice and recording total quantity of the flow over aperiod of time comprising: an element movable in response to measuredflow rate of a fluid, first measuring means to measure differentialpressure of the fluid across the orifice, said first measuring meansincluding a first measurement responsive member movable away from afirst limit position at zero differential pressure of the fluid acrosssaid orifice to a second position proportional to the differentialpressure of the fluid across said orifice, a second measuring means tomeasure static pressure of the fluid, said second measuring meansincluding a second measurement responsive member movable away from afirst limit position at zero static pressure of the fluid to a secondposition proportional to the static pressure of the fluid, meansinterconnecting said first and said second measurement responsivemembers with said element operable to move said element an amountproportional to the measurement of the flow rate of the fluid uponmovement of both said first and second measurement responsive membersaway from their first limit positions, recording means interconnectedwith said element operable in response to the position of said elementat predetermined intervals to record total quantity of flow of thefluid, said recording means ineluding a first member movable at saidpredetermined intervals from a predetermined first position to a secondposition determined by the position of said element, the quantity offlow of fluid recorded by said recording means being determined by themovement of said first member from said first predetermined position tosaid second position, and means controlled by said first measuring meansto prevent movement of said first member away from said firstpredetermined position when no differential pressure exists across saidorifice.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the means controlled bysaid first measuring means comprises a second member mounted formovement between opposite limit positions, said second member in onelimit position thereof adapted to engage said first movable member andprevent operation thereof and in the other limit position thereof to bedisengaged from said first movable member, said second member beingmovable to said one limit position when said first measurementresponsive member is in its said first limit position.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said second measurementresponsive member includes a pivoted static pressure lever movable inresponse to measurement of static pressure and said first measurementresponsive member includes a pivoted differential pressure lever movablein response to measurement of differential pressure, and saidinterconnecting means interconnects both said levers with said movableelement to position said element.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which the said first movablemember comprises an arm movable at predetermined intervals intoengagement with said element to sense the position of said element, andsaid second member is in engagement with said arm when said secondmember is in said one limit position to prevent said movement of saidarm.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which spring means isprovided normally urging said second member toward said other limitposition.

a s: m: =1: e

1. Apparatus for integrating measurements of flow of a fluid passingthrough an orifice and recording total quantity of the flow over aperiod of time comprising: an element movable in response to measuredflow rate of a fluid, first measuring means to measure differentialpressure of the fluid across the orifice, said first measuring meansincluding a first measurement responsive member movable away from afirst limit position at zero differential pressure of the fluid acrosssaid orifice to a second position proportional to the differentialpressure of the fluid across said orifice, a second measuring means tomeasure static pressure of the fluid, said second measuring meansincluding a second measurement responsive member movable away from afirst limit position at zero static pressure of the fluid to a secondposition proportional to the static pressure of the fluid, meansinterconnecting said first and said second measurement responsivemembers with said element operable to move said element an amountproportional to the measurement of the flow rate of the fluid uponmovement Of both said first and second measurement responsive membersaway from their first limit positions, recording means interconnectedwith said element operable in response to the position of said elementat predetermined intervals to record total quantity of flow of thefluid, said recording means including a first member movable at saidpredetermined intervals from a predetermined first position to a secondposition determined by the position of said element, the quantity offlow of fluid recorded by said recording means being determined by themovement of said first member from said first predetermined position tosaid second position, and means controlled by said first measuring meansto prevent movement of said first member away from said firstpredetermined position when no differential pressure exists across saidorifice.
 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the meanscontrolled by said first measuring means comprises a second membermounted for movement between opposite limit positions, said secondmember in one limit position thereof adapted to engage said firstmovable member and prevent operation thereof and in the other limitposition thereof to be disengaged from said first movable member, saidsecond member being movable to said one limit position when said firstmeasurement responsive member is in its said first limit position. 3.Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said second measurementresponsive member includes a pivoted static pressure lever movable inresponse to measurement of static pressure and said first measurementresponsive member includes a pivoted differential pressure lever movablein response to measurement of differential pressure, and saidinterconnecting means interconnects both said levers with said movableelement to position said element.
 4. Apparatus in accordance with claim2 in which the said first movable member comprises an arm movable atpredetermined intervals into engagement with said element to sense theposition of said element, and said second member is in engagement withsaid arm when said second member is in said one limit position toprevent said movement of said arm.
 5. Apparatus in accordance with claim2 in which spring means is provided normally urging said second membertoward said other limit position.